Logging-grab.



- (PATENTED JAN. 14, 1908. H. F. MARTIN.

LOGGING GRAB;

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 190'].

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YH'E NORRIS PETERS cm. wnsmucmn, u. c.

HAROLD F. MARTIN, OF WEST PIKE, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOGGING-GRAB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14:, 1908.

Application filed May 31,1907. Serial No. 376.543.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARoLD F. h lARTIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at W est Pike, in the county of Potter and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful IIHPIOVGIHBHtS inLogging-Grabs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tools used in lumber camps, and especially toan improve ment in logging hooks or grabs employed in securing a seriesof logs together or whereby one or more logs may be drawn from the stumpto the mill or to a convenient place for transportation.

Among the special objects I have in view are to improve the general formof the grab whereby the same may be easily driven into a log and readilywithdrawn therefrom when desired, and yet preventing likelihood ofaccidental displacement from the log; to prevent to the maximum extentinjury to the fiber of the log penetrated by the grab; to increase thestrength and durability of the tool without a corresponding increase ofweight; to provide means to prevent likelihood of breakage by thetwisting of the tool in actual use and without the attendantdisadvantages heretofore present in corresponding structures, andgenerally to produce a tool of this class which is simple in structure,easy of manipulation, and highly efficient and satisfactory in service.

For a full understanding of this invention, including its mode ofoperation, reference is to be had to the accompanyingdrawings, whereonsimilar parts are indicated in the several views by like referencecharacters, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the grab,showing in full lines the position assumed by the tool just prior tobeing driven into a log, and in dotted lines subsequent positionsthereof; Fig, 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 isa sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a diagrammaticplan view illustrating one application of the invention.

Specifically describing the mechanical structure of the grab, the shank10 is provided at its forward end with an annular eye 11 for theattachment of suitable draft means, such as a chain. The bit 12 of thegrab is made integral with the rear end of the shank, and the point 13thereof extends downwardly and forwardly with respect to said rear endof the shank, and the body would be tangent to the bottom of the eye atthe point 1 1, the purpose of which will presently appear. By virtue ofthis form of bit the tool may readily be driven into a log withoutstriking from the head toward the eye, thus minimizing the danger ofbreakage.

The shank 10 is comparatively short and substantially straightthroughout its length and joins with the bit in a comparatively sharpbend 15. The point 13 of the bit is chisel-shaped, and the front face ofthe bit, as indicated in Fig. 2, is widest at the point 13 and ismaterially narrower towards the bend 15, the taper being gradual fromthe point upward. The sides 16 of the bit are slightly convex and meetin a comparatively thin back 17. The rear and upper portion of thegrabis materially widened and strengthened. to form a head 18 to receive theimpact of a sledge or hammer when driving the same into a log andwhereby the durability of the tool is greatly enhanced. The head 18extends down far enough on the back of the bit to prevent the grab frombeing driven too far into the log. It will be noted, furthermore, thatthe general contour of the tool is unbroken and that the body thereof isbroad and strong with respect to the plane of greatest strain.

In order to prevent lateral strain upon the shank from bending orbreaking the bit when the latter is embedded in a log, I provide a wedge19 upon and integral with the bottom edge of the shank, and whollybetween the eye 11 and the bend 15. I am aware that it is not new tolocate a wedge for a similar purpose at the eye of a logging grab, but agrab with a wedge so located cannot be set into the log with facility,the wedge in the old forms interfering with the initial movement of thebit into the log. As indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the point 13penetrates the log to a considerable depth before the wedge begins toenter the log, and it will be noted in this connection that as the point13 penetrates the log, cutting its path in the arc hereinbeforedescribed, the eye 11 partakes of a rolling movement on its surface fromthe point 14 towards the edge 19, and where by the eye is caused torecede from the end of the log, a result not heretofore possible inprior devices. The peculiar advantage of this function is exemplified inFig. 4 in which a common manner of using the device is illus In thismanner of attachment two not only held. snugly against the log but asabove indicated the operation of driving the grabs into the log willcause an actual tightening of the chain, due to the rolling reced ingmovement of the grab eyes by virtue of the peculiar form of the bit withrespect to the shank. This peculiar function, moreover, obtainsirrespective of the wedge 19, and I am able consequently to secure thedesirable benefits from the wedge without any of the usual accompanyingdisadvantages.

The purpose of the wide chisel-shaped point 13 is to prevent the grabfrom bouncing out on being driven into a log, and which is so likely tooccur when the log is frozen. The convex sides 16 give added strength tothe bit, and the thin back 17 furnishes suflicient bracing strengthwhere needed and yet the form is such that the tool enters the wood witha minimum damage to the fiber by bruising of the same. While the grab inor dinary conditions of use is securely held in the log by reason of thebroad point 13, yet it is readily displaced when desired by applying apointed hammer or grab skipper directly under the bend 15.

While the above structural characteristics have been found mostsatisfactory and will bit at the other end of the shank, and a.

wedge integral with the shank and wholly between the eye and the bit,substantially as set forth.

2. A logging grab havinga shank, an annular eye at one end of the shank,an arcshaped bit at the other end of the shank, the center of curvatureof said bit being substantially at the bottom of the said. eye, and alog-entering wedge on the shank located wholly between the eye and thebit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The herein described logging grab consisting of a short straightshank, an eye at the forward end of the shank, an arc-shaped bitprojecting downwardly from the rear end of the shank and formingtherewith a sharp bend, the point of the bit being chisel-shaped andwider than the intermediate portion thereof, the center of curvature ofthe bit being substantially at the bottom of the eye, and the sides ofthe bit being convex and meeting. in a thin back portion, a wedge formedon the lower edge of the shank between the eye and the said bend, andthe upper rear portion of the grab being provided with a wide head,substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I afhX my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

HAROLD F. MARTIN. Witnesses:

(J. H. HAXToN, N. G. MARTIN.

